900 researchers and more than hundred inventions

Open culture of innovation

Innovations help to address the global challenges that are affecting us today and shaping our future. Innovation is also a driver of long-term growth for Bayer MaterialScience. Accordingly, we promote high-level research and development and invest continuously in this area. Pioneering inventions and numerous patent applications every year are evidence of this culture of innovation.

Polyurethane structure under the microscope. The Bayer invention

The growing world population, urbanization, rising mobility, climate protection and the conservation of fossil resources: Bayer MaterialScience works closely with customers in key industries, such as the automotive, construction and electrical/electronics industries, to develop new products and improve existing ones to meet challenges such as these. At the same time, our experts search for new applications for our high-tech materials such as polyurethane and polycarbonate.

We also strive for environmentally compatible and cost-efficient manufacturing processes, and we want to share new solutions for the future with our customers. Bayer MaterialScience therefore maintains a network of facilities that spans the globe: Innovation centers and technical centers for experiments and test production using state-of-the-art plants and machines.

Research and development activities are characterized by transparency, the will to collaborate and a sense of partnership. In line with the principle of open innovation, we frequently work on an international level with other companies in inter-industry projects. These activities are supported by continuous and close cooperation with external scientific institutions, spin-offs and start-ups in the academic environment.

In 2014, Bayer MaterialScience spent a good 200 million euros on research and development, corresponding to roughly two percent of total sales.Nearly 100 million euros more went into joint development projects with customers. Furthermore, 146 patents were applied for in 2014 – the output of an innovation community collaborating in international teams, both internal and external. In total, 900 employees work in research and development at Bayer MaterialScience.

A number of them have won awards and accolades. Physicist Dr. Friedrich-Karl Bruder, for example, was awarded the 2009 Innovation Prize by the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia for the development of a high-tech holographic film material. The Bayer Group itself awards prizes to internal and external scientists such as the Otto Bayer Award, the Otto Bayer Medal, the Early Excellence in Science Award and the Bayer Climate Award.